Chandler (Ariz.) Basha wide receiver prospect Nate Phillips attended a tournament with his team a little over a week ago at Arizona, and shortly after he told his head coach that Tucson was the place he wanted to be.

The 2013 prospect took an unofficial visit Monday to UA with his parents, and he gave the Wildcats his verbal pledge. The 5-foot-11 recruit also held offers from Air Force, North Dakota and Northern Arizona.

Phillips' head coach at Basha, Bernie Busken, said the fit with the Wildcats is perfect for the soon-to-be senior.

"Well he's got an understanding of the game that is really, really something," Busken said Monday evening. "He sees the holes in the defenses in the middle of the routes, and as a slot receiver he's the best I've had in 37 years.

"He's got great hands, and great quickness. He runs great routes and on top of all that he's a great, fantastic kid."

Rich Rodriguez and his staff have had success with smaller players in the past, and Busken thinks Phillips' size will be a benefit in the Wildcats' offensive system.

"I think it's absolutely perfect," the Basha head coach said. "The bottom line is that he's a football player, and the football players can't be measured in height and weight and all that. He's got great body control, and he's exactly they type of player they've had in the past.

"He's got great speed and great quickness, and coach Rod has had great success with that kind of player every place that he's been."

Busken said that Phillips is a high-character recruit, and that's something that will be valued at the next level.

"I think it's really big," he said. "I think colleges have changed, and they're not into these jerks anymore because they cause too many problems for you. And I think that character is one of the most important things along with leadership, a sense of team - not being selfish and knowing the part you can play for the team - and that's what Nate really understands well."

Phillips decision to commit gives the Wildcats nine committed prospects in the class and he is the third in-state prospect to give UA his verbal pledge.